Fence-post



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1 T. W. LARRABEE.

FENCE POST. N0. 59'O,843, Patented Sept.

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the post being offset from the base.

UNIT D STATES PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS W'ILLFORD LARRABEE, OF OARROLLTON, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,843, dated September 28, 1897.

Application filed June 22, 1897. Serial No. 641,795. (No model.)

T0 00 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLFoRD LARRABEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carrollton, in the county of Hancock and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in fence-posts.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of fence-posts and to provide a simpleand inexpensive one which will be strong and durable and which will be practically fireproof and substantially indestructible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fence-post whichwill permit an arrangement of its parts for counteracting the effect of high winds,

The invention consists in the construction and'novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure lvis a perspective view of a fence-post constructed in accord- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the upper portion of Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the base of the post.

Like numeralsof reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a fence-post comprising a pointed base 2, preferably constructed of wood, a wooden upper portion or bar 3, a metal coupling-bar 4, and a supporting-bar 5, constructed of metal. The base 2, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the lower end of the metal coupling-bar 4, is designed to be located several inches beneath the surface of the ground to prevent it from being affected by the air and by the moisture at the surface, whereby the wooden base is rendered practically indestructible and is enabled to last about as long as the metal portions of the post. It is providedwith flanges or enlargements 6, located at its opposite edges at the top and extending from opposite sides of the same to assist in anchoring the base and prevent it from shift-ing its position in the ground.

The wooden bar or post proper, 3, which is secured to the upper portion of the couplingbar, is designed to be located above the surface of the ground to prevent it from being affected by the moisture thereof and to render it fireproof and adapt it for use in a rail road-fence. The durability of the wooden bar or post is greatly increased by preventing it from beingjacted on by the moisture of the ground. V I

The coupling-bar is located at one side of the wooden bar or post proper, and the bar 5 is located at the'vopposite side and is con-- nected with the coupling-bar by horizontal fastening devices 7, passing through registering perforations of the three parts. lower end 8 of the attachment-bar is forked, and the forked portion 8 is adapted to receive the bottom wire of a fence, whereby the latter is held down to the ground in proper position and is prevented from rising.

The postis designed for all kinds of fencing, and when woven or other wire fencing is employed it is secured between the post proper and the attachment-bar after it has been stretched to the desired tension. hen used in connection with a board fence, the attachment-bar is unnecessary.

The post proper and the attachment-bar may, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, be offset from the base by being secured to the outer face of the coupling-bar when it is desired to arrange a fence in position to resist effectually the action of high winds and storms, which in the western section of the country usually come from the west.

This invention has the following advantages: The fence-post is simple, strong, and durable and is adapted to be employed in connection with all kinds of fencing, and when used in connection with woven or other wire fencing staples and similar fastening devices for the separate wires are unnecessary. The base, which is constructed of wood, is located beneath the surface of the ground, and the post proper is located above the ground,

The

thereby avoiding the rot, which usually occurs first at the surface of the ground in posts constructed entirely of wood.

The wooden fence-post proper may be arranged only a short distance above the ground, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, to prevent it from rotting at the surface, and it can also be disposed at a greater elevation, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, to render the post practically fireproof, and thereby adapt it for use in a railroad-fence. The forked lower end of the bar 5 engages the bottom wire of afence and holds the fencing to the ground when the post proper is in either position. 7

What I claim is- 1. The combination of a base designed to be located below the surface of the ground, a wooden post located above the surface of the ground, the metal coupling-bar located at one side of the post and connecting the same and the base, a space being left between the adjacent ends of the base and the post, and an attachment-bar located at the opposite side of the post and having its lower end forked to receive the bottom wire of a fence, whereby the latter is held close to the ground, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a tapering base designed to be located below the surface of the ground and provided at its top with flanges located at its opposite edges and projecting from opposite sides of it, a fence-post proper located above the base and designed to be arranged above the surface of the ground, a coupling-bar arranged at one side of the post and secured to the same and to the base, and an attachment-bar secured to the other side of the post, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a wooden base design ed to be arranged below the surface of the ground, a wooden post located above the surface of the ground, the metal coupling-bar connecting the post and the base and arranged at one side of the former, and the attachment-bar located at the other side of the post, substantially as described.

4. A fence-post provided at one side with a fork disposed transversely of the line of the fence, and located at the surface of the ground in position to receive the bottom Wire of the fence and to be closed by the ground, whereby the fence is held down to the same and is pre- Vented from becoming accidentally disengaged from the fork, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS WILLFORI) LA RRABEE.

Witnesses:

EDGAR SMITH, GEORGE MCROBERTS. 

